Gun for discharging projectiles by gases supplied thereto under pressure



T. AND J. E. THORNYCROF T.

GUN FOR DISCHARGING PROJECTILES BY GASES SUPPLIED THERETO UNDER PRESSURE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-9,1918.

1,340,689. I Patented May 18, 1920,

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I. AND J. E. THORNYCHOFT. GUN FOR DISCHARGING PROJECTILES BY GASES SUPPLIED THERETO UNDER PRESSURE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 9, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Patented May 18, 1920.

T. AND J. E. THORNYCROFT. GUN FOR DISCHARGING PROJECTILES BY GASES SUPPLIED THERETO UNDER PRESSURE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 9, I918.

1,340,689, Patented May 18, 1920.

, 3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

UNITE ST GUN r03. DISCHARGING rnoJEcTILEs BY GASES- SUPPLIED THERETO UNDER PRESSURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

- Patented May 18, 1920.

Application filed December 9, 1918. Serial No. 265,920.

a all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ToM THoRNYoRorr 1d Sir JOHN EDWARD THoRNYoRor'r, K B subjects of the King of Great Britain [(1 Ireland, residing, respectively, at Westinster, England, have invented Improveents in or Relating to Guns for Dischargg Projectiles by Gases Supplied Thereto nder Pressure, of which the following is a ecification.

This invention has for its object to prode a gun or bomb thrower specially adaptfor throwing what is known as a depth large for use in naval warfare, the depth large comprising a receptacle of cylinrical or othersuitable shape charged with high explosive and designed to be thrown to the sea for the destruction of submarine )ats. A depth charge thrower for this purpose, :cording to the present invention, com- :ises a short gun barrel, a gas receiver proded with means for generating gases under .gh pressure by the combustion of cordite r like propellant, such gas receiver being :cured lengthwise upon the gun barrel and Wing its interior connected at its rear end the rear end of the interior of the gun trrel through short alined ports or pas- :ges of small cross section, means for sup- )rting the gun barrel with associated parts l an inclined position for use, and means )r holding a depth charge in position for :ing thrownfrom the gun.

The means for generating gases under ressure comprises a combustion chamber iereinafter called a charge container) made i comparatively small internal capacity rid of great strength so as to admit of a large of cordite or like propellant (herein- Eter referred to as cordite), being burnt ierein under high pressure and comparavely slowly, in order to insure more cer- [in and complete combustion of the whole iarge and with less shock than would ;herwise be the case. The charge container, rovided with suitable firing means, is sewed in the gas receiver with which it comrunicates through a gas exit of comparavely small'area and conveniently formed v a number of small apertures in its wall.

A depth charge thrower of the kind reirred to can be variously constructed.

"In the accompanying illustrative draw-.

ings, Figure 1 shows partly in side elevation and partly in central longitudinal section, one construction of depth charge thrower with depth charge, according to the invention. F 1g. 2 is a perspective view of these parts. Fig. 3 is a side elevation and Fig. 4: a section on the line A A of Fig. 3, illustratlng holding means for'a depth charge shown in dotted lines. Fig. 5 is a perspec- UVB view showing means for supporting the gun barrel and attached part in position. 111g. 1s a similar view showing a charge contalner. 'Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing a modified construction of the depth charge thrower with depth charge in position and Fig. 8 is a similar view to Fig. 1 but with the depth charge and the means for carrying the same, removed. Figs. 9 and 10 are central longitudinal sections at right angles to one another,showing a firing pistlol. The figures are drawn to different sci. es..

Referring to Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, a is the gun barrel, 1) the gas receiver mounted longitudinally thereon, 0 the charge con-v tainer, each made of steel, and d the firing pistol, the gun barrel and gas receiver being secured firmly together. Formed in the rear end portions of the barrel a'and gas receiver 6 are a pair of laterally extending adjacent ports or passages e and f that are adapted, when clamped in alinement with each other, to establish a short direct communication between the interiors of the gas receiver and gun barrel. To insure a gas-tight joint between the rear end portions of the gas re ceiver and gun barrel, there may, as shown, be inserted at the junction of the ports or passages E and F, means, such as a double tapered tubular nipple or dowel 9, that also serves or assists, upon the firing of the gun, to transmit the thrust of recoil from the gun barrel a to the gas receiver 6. As will be seen from Fig. 1, the rear end portion of the gun barrel 0 from which the port or passage 6 extends, forms a gas chamber of less cross sectional area than the remaining or forward portlon of the gun barrel. The

rear ends of the gun barrel and gas receiver may, as shown, advantageously be secured together by a surrounding metal strap 72. and

' set screws The forward end of the gas barrel respectively and are divided diametrically in a vertical plane (see Flg. 5), each v pair of half rings being carried by and preferably formed in one piece with an inclined flanged metal plate 9' fixed to the base plate la. The two inclined plates 7' with half rings j, j are secured together by throughbolts m. In Fig. 2 the divided rings j are carried by a single inclined plate 3' The gun barrel is provided with a ball end or cascabel n secured in a kick socket 0 fixed to the base plate is. As will be seen, the construction is such that the various parts of the thrower can be readily made and assembled for use and can be readily taken apart when desired, as for transport.

The means for holding a depth charge in position for being thrown, comprises a ram or plunger p (Figs 3 and 4) adapted to fit the interior of the gun barrel a and extending nearly the full length thereof, and a curved plate cradle r fixed to the upper outer end of the plunger end adapted, as by the side flanges r and end lips 7 to hold the depth charge 8 in a suitable position for being thrown, conveniently in a horizon tal position as shown, in the case of a cylindrical depth charge. The plunger 10 with cradle 1" is prevented from turning inthe barrel a, as by keys t on the plunger fitting into slots at in the muzzle end of the barrel a, and it can be prevented from accidentally leaving the barrel, during sea stowage, by lashings secured say to rings '0 on the depth charge 8 and to eyes to orrings on the sides of the thrower, or it may be, on the deck of the vessel. The plunger p may be hard wood and the cradle r of steel plates fixed together and secured to the plunger by a through-bolt a2 and nut 1 To avoid any possibility of the clearance space in the gun barrel a between the lower end thereof and the adjacent end of the plunger 37 being filled with water when at sea, the bottom of the barrel may be pro vided witha small drain hole 2 (Fig. l) say of about of an inch in diameter, which is always left open.

The cordite charge used is preferably in the form of a cartridge 0 that fits, or nearly so, the charge container 0. This container consists (see Figs. 1 and 6) of a perforated cylindrical vessel screwed into the forward end of the gas receiver 1) so as to project into the interiorv of the gas receiver and having a rounded closed inner end, such container being made of steel having a high yield point, elongation and ultimate strength, and of suificient thickness to withstand the high gas pressure set up therein on the firing of the cordite charge. For a cordite charge of about four ounces,

which is suitablefor .throw'ing a depth charge weighing say about four hundred pounds, to a distance of about one hundred and twenty feet, the charge container 0 may be provided with twenty four holes 0 each having a diameter of about of an inch so that the gas exit outlet from the container has a total cross sectional area of about 1.85 square inches.

Figs. 7 and 8 show a simplified construction of a depth charge thrower according to the invention. In this case the gunbarrel a with its support 7' for hold- 1ng it in an inclined position, say about 50, and its base plate is, are made of cast iron, n one piece, cast iron of good quality be- 1ng sufiiciently strong to withstand the comparatively low pressures employed in the barrel, say about six hundred pounds to the square inch, without having to make the barrel unduly thick. For use, the base plate is may be secured, as by bolts, to a steel base plate secured to the deck of a vessel or other structure upon which it is to be used. The gas receiver 5 is secured to the barrel by metal straps 72. and 71. each of which is secured, as by set screws i 11 to lugs a a cast in one piece with the barrel. the straps embracing the gas receiver 6 at the end portions thereof and being held in position thereon, as by screws 1?. In this example, both the cradle 1' and the plunger p for carrying it are made of steel plate, the plunger being hollow. In other respects this modified but simplified construction of depth chargethrower is substantially similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2. i

The firing pistol shown at d in Figs. 1 and 2 may be constructed in various forms. It may however advantageously be constructed, as shown more clearly in Figs. 10 and 11. In this example it comprises a tubular body 1- adapted to be readily screwed into and removed from the outer end of the cordite container 0 and provided with a hammer 2 and spring 3 of the rebounding lock type, which is normally uncooked and is adapted to be fired by a pullthrough wedge 4 which can be operated by hand or by a lanyard. A locked safety bolt 5 passed across the top or outer end 2 of the hammer 2'and through an open guard 6 secured to the tubular body 1, serves to prevent the firing wedge 4 being withdrawn until it has been unlocked and removed. The inner end of the pistol body is adapted, as by providing it with a lip 7, or there may be more than one, to fit the rim on the cordite cartridge and support the cartridge in position within the cordite-container, and

also to act as the extractor for the cartridgecase. An indicator, such as a spring pin 8, may be provided on the side of the pistol body to show when a cartridge is in the charge container. When a cartridge in position, the spring pin 8 is held in its her position by the cartridge against .ich it bears. The operation of the apparatus is as folvs:

r cordite charge or cartridge being placed the container 0 the firing gear d is placed position ready to be actuated. When it desired to throw a depth charge 8 from the n barrel a, the firing gear is operated in a usual way, as through a lanyard or other vice, and the charge or cartridge 0 ignited, d as the resulting gases are restricted in lume owing to the construction of the arge container .0 used, the cordite burns npletely under high pressure. The resultgases pass into and are collected in the :eiver b and thence pass through the holes .nd f into the breech end of the gun. As the rdite is burnt under pressure and comratively slowly, there will be very little ock due to its combustion and the resultg gases will pass from the gas receiver into a un barrel through the holes e and f in steady and continuous manner without )lent shock, and with a comparatively low d steady pressure, so that they'will act in advantageously manner upon the plunger and throw it and the cradle 1' and depth arge s away from the gun barrel in a defite and effective manner.

By means of depth charge throwers conructed and operating as described, a depth arge, the casing of which is made comratively thin, can be readily thrown for- Lld without any liability of its being preiturely exploded by the set back, due to inertia, at the instant of projecting it om the gun barrel. Also, as it is thrown rward by gas under pressure produced by mbustion of a propellent in a chamber parate from the gun barrel, and connected 'ereto through a passage of small cross sec- )nal area, there is no danger of flame, due combustion of the propellant, coming into ntact with the depth charge.

What we claim is 1. A gun adapted to throw a depth charge, mprising a gun barrel, a gas receiver con- :cted at its rear end to the rear end of said in barrel by a connecting passage of less oss sectional area than said receiver and id gun barrel, a charge container having a stricted outlet in communication with said LS receiver so that a combustible charge in .id container can be burnt under high preslre to generate gases under high pressure 1d admit such gases to the gas receiver at reduced pressure and to the gun barrel at still lower pressure, means for supportvg the gun barrel in position. for use, a lunger fitting the bore of the gun barrel 1d free to be thrown out of and away from 1e gun barrel by gases under pressure aditte'd to the rear end of the gun barrel and means carried by the outer projecting end of the plunger adapted to support a depth charge in position to be thrown.

2. A gun or depth charge thrower, comprising a gun barrel, means for supporting the same in an inclined position for use, a gas receiver connected to the rear end of said gun barrel through a passage of restricted cross sectional area, a charge container extending into and carried by said gas receiver and adapted to admit of a charge of propellant being readily inserted therein, said charge container having a gas outlet'of restricted cross sectional area for the purpose set forth, means for firing said charge of propellant for producing gases under high pressure, a plunger fitting the bore of the gun barrel and free to be thrown out of and away from said gun barrel by gases under pressure admitted to the rear end of said barrel and means carried by said plunger for supporting a depth charge outside of said gun barrel.

3. A gun or depth charge thrower, com-- cross sectional area, a charge container located within and secured to said gas receiverand in communication therewith through a gas outlet of restricted cross section, means for. firing a charge of propellant in said charge container and a plunger fitting the bore of said gun barrel and free to be thrown out of and away from said gun barrel, the outer end of the plunger being adapted to hold and support a depth charge outside of the gun barrel.

4:. A gun or depth charge thrower accord ing to claim 1, wherein the gas receiver with charge container is detachably connected to the gun barrel.

5. A gun or depth charge thrower according to claim 1, wherein the gas receiver with means for producing gases under pressure is secured lengthwise upon the gun barrel and has its rear end in direct communication with the rear end of the gun barrel through alined ports or passages.

6. A gun or depth charge thrower according to claim 1, wherein the plunger is a non-rotatable one and the means for supporting a depth charge is in the form of a holder extending across and at right angles to the plunger.

7. A gun or depth charge thrower according to claim "1, wherein the outer end of the gun-barrel and an adjacent part of the plunger'are provided with interengaging parts to prevent rotation of the plunger.

8. A gun or depth charge thrower according to claim 1, wherein the means carried by the outer end of the plunger foradapted to be fired by a pull-through wedge and with a guard adapted to hold and support a locked safety bolt across the outer end of the hammer.

10. A gun or depth charge thrower having a firing pistol according to claim 9, wherein the inner end of the body of the pistol is adapted to hold the rim of a cordite cartridge and support the cartridge within the charge container and also to act as an extractor for the cartridge case.

11. A gun or depth charge thrower having a firing pistol according to claim' 9, wherein the body of. the pistol is provided with an indicator adapted to show when a cartridge is in the cordite container.

12. A gun or depth charge thrower comprising a gun barrel, a base therefor, means for supporting said gun barrel in an inclined position on said'base, a plunger fitting said barrel. and provided at its outer end with a cradle for supporting a depth charge, a gas receivermounted upon and detachably clamped to said gun barrel and having its rear end in direct connection with said gun barrel, through a passage of reduced cross section, a charge container secured within the forward end of said gas receiver and in communication therewith through a restricted gas outlet, and a firing pistol for firing a charge within said charge container.

13. A gun or depth charge thrower comprising a base, a gun barrel integral therewith and supported thereby in an inclined position a plunger fitting said barrel and provided at its outer end with a cradle for supporting a depth charge, a gas receiver detachably mounted upon said gun barrel. and having its rear end in direct communication with the rear end of said gun barrel, a charge container within the forward end of saictgas receiver and in communication therewith and a pistol for firing a charge within said-charge container.

14. A gun or depth charge thrower according to claim 13, wherein the forward end of the gun barrel is provided with notches and the combined plunger and/carrier with lugs adapted to enter said notches for the purpose set forth.

15. A gun or depth charge thrower comprising a gunbarrel, a plunger freely fitting said gun barrel and provided at its outer end with a cradle adapted to support a depth charge, a separate longitudinally arranged tubular gas receiver carried by said gun barrel and having its rear end in direct and free communication with the rear end of the gun barrel through a short passage of restricted cross sectional area, means for securing said gas receiver to said gun barrel, a perforated tubular charge container extending into and carried by the gas receiver, the perforations in said charge container forming a gas outlet of restricted cross sectional area, substantially as described for the purpose set forth, between said charge container and gas receiver, firing means for igniting a charge of propelsaid gun barrel, a perforated tubular charge container extending into and carried by sa1d gas receiver, firing means earned by sa1d charge contalner, sa1d gun barrel having at its rear end a gas chamber of less cross sectional area than the portion of the barrelin which the plunger is fitted, and

having a short lateral passage extending therefrom, and said gas receiver having at its rear-end a lateral passage in alinement with the lateral passage extending from said gas chamber, said lateral passages be-' in each of less cross sectional area than sa1d gas chamber and gas receiver and means for connecting the gas receiver to the gun barrel in a detachable manner.

17. A gun or depth charge thrower comprising a gun barrel, a plunger fitting said barrel and provided at its outer end with a cradle for supporting ia depth charge, a separate gas receiver arranged longitudinally upon and carried by said gun bar rel, a perforated tubular charge container extending into and carried by said gas receiver, firing means carried by said charge 1 container, said gun barrel having at its rear end agas chamber ofless cross sectional area'thanthe portion of the barrel in which the plunger is fitted and having a short lateral passage extending therefrom I and said gas receiver having at its rear end a lateral passage in alinement with the lateral passage of said gas chamber, said lateral passages being each of less cross sectional area than said gas chamber and I gas reeciver, means for connecting the forward end of the gas receiver to the gun barrel in a detachable manner and means for clamping the rear end of the gas receiver to the rear end of the gun tube in a detachable manner. 4

18. A gun or depth charge thrower comprising a gun barrel, a base plate and supporting plate integral with one another, with the barrel inclined to the horizontal, a plunger fitting said gun barrel and provided at its outer end with a cradle adapted to support a depth charge in position to be thrown, a gas receiver arranged longitudinally upon said gun barrel, detachable straps securing saidgas receiver to said gun barrel, the rear ends of said gun barrel receiver for firing a combustible charge of propellant within said charge container.

-Signed at London, England, this thirteenth day of November, 1918,

TOM THORNYCROFT. 7 JOHN EDWD. THORNYCROFT. 

